Hi Kevin,

Unfortunately, I cannot send you my notes as the file sizes are too much for them to be sent in an e-mail.

But, I think when it comes to organization, you have to develop your own personal system that works for you and is unique in its fit to your studying style. When I started out in the first term, I hadn't figured out a good system of studying Anatomy. I had written down stuff on many different pieces of paper....it was a plain mess.

So one day, I just decided to change my whole approach to Anatomy, and I began rewriting my own notes based on the course companion, lecture notes (in Power point format), Chung and the text. If I didn't understand something, I took a lot of pictures of the structures of concern in my cadaver and added them to my notes. I then would write a detailed review of the material in my own words. After all that was done, I'd take a blank sheet of paper and draw the structures myself. I really feel, if you can draw something you can understand something.

Don't feel overwhelmed the first week with Anatomy. Once you develop your own personal system to studying anatomy, things will go along smoothly. One website that I should have used more of was the U of Michigan Med. School Anatomy Website (which is a link in the SGU Anatomy Website). The UMich website was awesome in that it had review questions on all topics. Mock practical examinations with questions containing a multiple choice of around 26 possible answers. IT was definitely an engaging website that I suggest you all start using from Day 1. I wish I had taken more advantage of it earlier on in my 1st term.

But, your notes will only make sense to you when they are organized in the way that best suits your study style. Oh yeah, I bet that you can log on to the SGU website as a member. your login will be your e-mail name, and the password will be your social security number. Try it out. Go to Members Center on the SGU website. For your e-mail name, it should be (usually is) the first three letters of your last name followed by the first three letters of your first name. the default password should be your social security number.

ex: Amor Mehta ---> mehamo=login
********* = password (your social security)

Hopefully you can get on the website and snoop around. If you do, go to the DES website and they have links in finding out your study style...I think its called the North Carolina Learning Test or something to that effect.

PEACE

Amor

Great tips! Just adding something that is equally important to being organized and working hard. Find a great study group. Accept to meet with any student that wants to sit down and study/discuss the material during your first few terms. You'll self select into a good group. That way you can find people that you mesh well with and make the process that much more rewarding. In fact the best aspect of my experiences down on ths islands was studying with a group of friends that shared the same passion for medicine; later we were all split up during clinicals with a couple transferring out, we all continue to keep in close touch years later. Also, don't feel like you all need to mesh in terms of your study habits we were all different; one of my study partners was aggro with his computer like the original poster, another kept incredible notes that he constantly updated over and over as we went through (highly recommend this technique--though not mine), another just seems to remember everything he reads and hardly wrote anything down; one had a strange preoccupation with the liver and macrophages (GI-type's weird but nice), I preferred to take few notes but write test questions instead to distill the essentials or things that I found confusing. Either way we all pushed each other and supported one another during various classes, each person will have their strenghts and weakness and you'll appreciate the help when you need it. Thoreau wrote about the most valuable experience that a university provides is oddly what is free which is the interaction with your fellow students. SGU has some amazing students there and you'll find that your discussions and heated arguments over something as mundane as potassium movement across a membrane will be some of your best learning experiences. Lastly, you'll have little free time, but try to have a life and go to the beach, hike with the hash house harriers, snorkel/dive, and do some sailing while you're down there that way you will have many fond memories to reminisce about during the long hard days of post-call , bad-day, everything went wrong, and you'll think wouldn't it be great to be back in Grenada sipping some westerhall or rum punch , eating some rotis, and talking with my friends.

Where did you do your EM rotation? Can you share some of your experience? Was Em your first choice or were you deciding between another path and EM?
Can you tell me what kind of range I should be looking at on step 1 for EM residency?
THanks

Nimitt
3rd year (after I pass step 1 of course)

Where did you do your EM rotation? Can you share some of your experience?

I did two EM rotations one at Highland General (ACMC) and the other at USC. Since you're a third year it is extremely important to start planning your fourth year now; start looking at places you might want to do residency at on www.saem.org website in the residency catalog. I know it may seem premature but trust me you have to plan early as an FMG. Both of my EM rotations were hard to come by in terms of paper work and timing. I did my Highland rotation first because I knew the program well and I knew I could get great training and good LOR's; also my heart was not set on going there so I looked at it as an opportunity to learn as much as I could without worrying if I was impressing them. Since it was early in my fourth year it was more difficult but by the end of the month I was well prepared for my USC rotation; I did a radiology rotation between the two to get good at reading films quickly and improve my understanding of CT's. I would suggest Highland rotation at end of May because its easier to schedule; then next EM rotation in August of fourth year. Unless highalnd is your top choice in which case do it vice-versa with a similar program. Study hard during your cores and ask questions about how to diagnose acute problems and ask to be involved in ED consults while on the other services.

Was Em your first choice or were you deciding between another path and EM?
EM was my first choice. I really liked Peds/EM and interviewed with the combined Peds/EM residency at Univ. Maryland but decided not to list this as my first choice as I was not as impressed with their Peds dept but great EM program (great faculty). I chose USC because I really believe it fits me best and I can spend a lot of elective time in my fourth year doing peds which will lead to the same opportunity to get hired by a children's hospital later if I still feel the same way then. I toyed with Peds as a possibility but realized that I really wanted the diversity of the EM.

Can you tell me what kind of range I should be looking at on step 1 for EM residency?

You want one of your scores to be above 220 (>90); I was able to do this for step 1, so I chose and was advised to not take step 2 until late which I did in mid/late January of this year so I had no pressure about my step 2 score. I had one program director ask me about where my step 2 score was and I explained that I was advised to take it later which he disagreed with but admitted that the decision to rank me was not going to be decided by the outcome of this score. None of the other residency directors asked. A word of advice though some program directors may not offer interviews without both scores so I may have missed more interviews than I was aware of. Cast a wide net when you apply, I applied to 49 programs and ended up with 13 interviews and went to each of them and ranked 12 of the programs ( I just didn't think I would be happy at one of them). Also attend the SAEM conferences especially the med student one and a national meeting can help as well. I got an interview at a very good program because of a contact I made at the conference. Also consider going to ACEP meeting I didn't but realized it would have been a good decision to do this. Also, if you can get involved in doing research; this helped my application tremendously. Have your application ready to submit on September 1st and start calling programs early to tell them how interested you are in interviewing there; I would do this in October, I know I got a few interviews by doing this. Enjoy step 1 and don't feel too pressured everyone walks in there feeling under prepared even after doing Kaplan; just concentrate on giving it your best effort. I thought I failed it and the scores turned out fine. Also it is not an absolute requirement to score above 220 it just helps with the more competitive programs but your performance during your EM rotations will be far more important; the numbers get you by a screen but the LOR and interview get you ranked which is most important.
Good luck!

Thanks alot EM bound. It helps alot.

Nimitt

Thanks for all the info. I will be attending this august and I am very excited to see what is in store for all of us. I heard that this fall class may be one of the biggest classes, around 300?

Anyway I am really looking forward to school this fall. Thanks for all the help!!!

I remember when I first got to Grenada, and saw everybody using Chung's Gross Anatomy book. Feeling that I was missing out, I borrowed a copy from a friend to see what the commotion was about, and I have to admit that in my opinion, the book is pretty unimpressive. For every single class down here, the instructors do a pretty good job of letting you know what they expect you to know. Essentially, my point is that Chung's is pretty inexpensive, so I guess that if you are so inclined, you might as well plop down the money to see what it's all about, but the warning is that different people will give you different advice, and while some of it might not be bad advice per se, it might not be applicable to you.

-A

Yo Amor, thanks for the elaborate studying tips. I am starting at SGU this Aug.

I'm from NJ also, particularly bergen county, where you from?
the NETS had Game 6, those bums.
Mets vs. Yanks this weekend, all i wanna see is a career ending injury to clemens & jeter.

-Samir

#1 priority is to find a system of studying that works for for. There are many study tactics that can work; but in general treat it like a marathon and not a sprint - slow, but diligent and consistent studying is the best. AVOID CRAMMING! My tactic was to go over the material the first time just by skimming - reading every word but not dwelling on memorization but UNDERSTANDING of CONCEPTS. Then I would revisit the same material later (skimming other subjects in the interim), in a similar light fashion. By the third repitition, I felt pretty good about the info. The fourth repitition was the one prior to the exam where memorization was key. I would highlight only the things that struck me as things I did not know on the third repition. Go to class if it you feel that you are gaining from it - but with some classes/professors (especially the ones that have good packets and follow them to the letter!) I found that I could cover more info in less time by reading the packet on my own. Some people get alot out of lectures, others don't. I went to about 60% of the classes, depending on the lecturer. But When I was not in class, I was always studying.

Concerning Board Review Books - People either hate them or love them. I loved them. Also - do alot of questions! This is the best way to test what you know and don't know - and often the results will surprise you!

The mail room used to sell copies of "Holubar's (sic) notes" - a guy from a class several yers ago who baxially transcribed lectures - I loved his notes and used them extensively. Densely packed with info in outline form.

Also - chill out a little bit. Take at least one half of a full day off every week to do something fun. Also, study at least 2 hours every day. Treat the education as if it is your job, and for extra motivation, think about how much you are paying to be there!


If you can swing it, I recommend buying a car. Usually you can sell it for what you pay for it, and mechanics (such as Mr. Lords just of the Lance aux e'pines roundabout) are inexpensive and ingenious at keeping hunk-o-junks on the road for one more semester. I bought and sold a car in my 2cd term and it dramatically increased my quality of life - I wish I had bought it sooner. A decent car can be bought for under $1000 (US$)

EXPLORE, and if possible, TRAVEL! It is very cheap to go to Barbados, Margarita island, etc, and is a great way to "Recharge your batteries."

Lastly, believe in yourself - many have done it before you and you can too.

Good luck - I still reminisce about the "good ol' days" down in the islands.

Buy First Aid for USMLE Step 1 now (about $35 if I recall correctly), and just pre-read the chapters for the classes for your upcoming semester - even if it makes no sense - just keep going and make yourself read it. First Aid is high yield, and if it is in there then you should definately know it. this will also give you insight for deciphering "important" vs. "unimportant" info. Then, during you break, re-read the first aid chapters for the class you just took - Good way to lock the info in for the Step Exams. First Aid is not that big of a book and can be completely reveiwed in a few days.